Explosive Secrets. Valerie Hansen

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СКАЧАТЬ poor apartment, imagining the worst. The place hadn’t been much to start with, but it was hers. The landlord had just repaired the door the police had damaged when they’d burst in to arrest Murke. No telling how upset the apartment manager was going to be when he saw what had happened today. She hoped there was insurance to cover this new damage because it was bound to cost a lot more than the broken door had, and she was pretty sure the authorities were not going to pick up the tab this time.

      She parked her trusty old sedan in the usual spot behind The Truck Stop Diner and paused to try to compose herself. She’d been just getting over the jitters left after Murke’s attack only to have her life thrown off-kilter once again.

      If the familiar police car hadn’t been following close behind her all the way, she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to convince herself to go ahead and report for work. But there he was, on duty as promised.

      His dog was absolutely precious—so sweet-natured and friendly. Nicki smiled to herself, noting that both man and canine had the same dark, silky hair and puppy-dog brown eyes.

      She looked in the car’s mirror and fastened her long hair out of the way as her job required. Two quick twists of an elastic band and she was good to go. “I can do this,” she told herself. “I’ve worked here so long I could fill the orders in my sleep.”

      A smile lifted one corner of her mouth as she climbed out of her car, locked it and pocketed the key ring. Considering her lack of adequate sleep since Murke’s break-in, and the adrenaline she had expended today, she just might doze off at the grill. The books she’d read about pregnancy had said to expect changes in her metabolism, but they hadn’t told her how tired she’d be. Of course, those writers hadn’t allowed for repeated attacks and terrifying threats, either.

      Nicki glanced over to the visitor section of the lot where Jackson was parking the police car, then started for the back door leading to the kitchen. Wafting odors of burnt grease and accumulated garbage overflowing the trash receptacle instantly set her stomach churning.

      Seeking to escape the cloying stench, she held her breath and chose a roundabout route instead of heading straight for the door.

      A shadowy figure, hardly more than a blur, appeared for an instant in her peripheral vision. If she had continued along her usual path without diversion they could have collided!

      Startled, Nicki shrieked. Whirled around. Started to run without waiting to see who or what had scared her.

      A dark shape loomed directly in front of her. She crashed into a hard chest and would have fallen if the man had not quickly grabbed and steadied her.

      Clenching her fists, she began to beat on him.

      “Whoa. Take it easy. It’s me. It’s me.”

      As the voice penetrated her fog of fear, she realized it was familiar. Gasping, she looked up at Jackson Worth and managed to croak out, “Somebody tried to grab me!”

      “Are you sure? Where? I didn’t see a thing.”

      “Back by the trash bin.” She struggled to catch her breath.

      Bright lights twinkled at the corners of her eyes. Her head spun. Her legs refused to support her.

      She could sense that she was being lifted and cradled protectively just as the parking lot vanished and blackness wrapped her like a warm blanket.

      Fighting was useless. Surrender felt too good.

      * * *

      Bearing his lightweight burden, Jackson shouldered through the front door of the main service station complex and carried Nicki past racks of cellophane-wrapped snack food and into the dining area. Their passage generated a few raised eyebrows but apparently his uniform, badge and gun were enough to keep any of the truckers or other customers from interfering.

      As she began to stir, she slipped an arm around his neck, laid her cheek on his chest and clung to him as if she knew what she was doing. That was troubling. So was his reaction. Having her show such reliance felt far too good. It was also something he could not permit. He’d learned the hard way that romance and being a cop did not mix.

      He lowered her to sit on the edge of one of the green plastic booth benches, unwrapped her arm from his neck and steadied her as she regained full consciousness. Her color was wan, her eyes blinking rapidly.

      When she pushed him away, he realized that her earlier actions must have been instinctive rather than an effort to sway his opinion of her. That was definitely a good sign—a point in her favor.

      A chubby, uniformed waitress appeared at Jackson’s elbow with a glass of ice water. He nodded as he took it from her. “Thanks.”

      “Is Nicki okay?” the older woman asked.

      “I think so. Just got too much excitement.”

      “I sure hope that’s all it is. Big Lou is already complaining because she’s late again. He’s gonna have a cow if she can’t work tonight.”

      Jackson turned his attention back to Nicolette as the waitress left. He bent and held out the glass of water. “Here. Drink this.”

      “I’m not thirsty.” She tried to rise, getting only partway to her feet before she plopped back down on the spongy green seat. “Uh-oh. Still dizzy.”

      “Let me take you to the E.R. for a checkup. You may be feeling the effects of the blast.”

      “No way. If I don’t work, I don’t eat. I’ll be fine in a few minutes.” She grimaced. “Sure wish I didn’t have to deal with all the strong odors in that kitchen, though. Seems like everything makes me queasy these days.”

      “That’s normal, isn’t it?”

      “So they say. It’s just a bummer to work around food when even the thought of it makes you sick.”

      Jackson had to smile at her wry expression and the way she accepted her new limitations. “I can see where that might be a drawback.”

      A hard tap on his shoulder diverted his attention. He straightened, instinctively resting his palm on the butt of his holstered gun as he faced the burly, stubble-chinned man who had joined them. “Yes?”

      The man cocked his head toward Nicolette. “She gonna work or not?”

      Nicki was quick to reply, “Of course I am, Lou.”

      “Then get into the kitchen. I don’t pay you to sit around entertaining cops.”

      Jackson wanted to defend the young woman by explaining what had happened to her earlier, but figured she didn’t want or need his help. It was clear from her demeanor that she was used to facing down her taciturn boss. If she wanted this Lou character to know about the threats and the explosion, she’d tell him.

      “I’m going to go have a look around the parking lot,” Jackson explained, “and see if I notice anything out of the ordinary. You couldn’t tell what startled you?”

      “No. I thought there was a funny shadow back by the trash bins. I assumed it was a man. Since you didn’t see anybody, maybe there was nothing there. I have been awfully jumpy lately.”

      “That’s СКАЧАТЬ